{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"PS 253","outOfStateSupporters":15.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2103134,"projectId":9851360,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation to our Donors Choose page helping bring our performance of \"Night at the Holiday Museum\" to life! With your support, our cast took their characters to the next level on our stage. The 4th and 5th graders grew not only as performing artists, but responsible individuals. Being responsible for costumes and props before and after each rehearsal and performance was great practice for our bigger Disney production in the Spring. They were so proud and grateful for their individualized costumes and props. The cast performed their hearts out, but it truly came together once their costumes and props were added. Your generosity means so much to our performing arts department and our school community. Thank you for contributing to the magic of the holiday season!","fullyFundedDate":1764697505679,"projectUrl":"project/winter-performing-arts-production/9851360/","projectTitle":"Winter Performing Arts Production","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Provvisiero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2103134_orig.jpg?crop=1935,1935,x198,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1583503599089","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-provvisiero"},{"teacherId":9931480,"projectId":9731358,"letterContent":"On behalf of my students, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generosity in funding our project. Because of your support, our classroom has been transformed in ways that nurture both academic growth and emotional well‑being.\r\n\r\nThe arrival of the Dog Man series has sparked an incredible excitement for reading. Students who once hesitated to pick up a book now eagerly dive into these stories, laughing together, sharing favorite parts, and building confidence in their reading skills. The books have become a bridge to literacy, helping reluctant readers discover the joy of storytelling and strengthening our classroom community.\r\n\r\n The calming corner has given students a safe, supportive space to manage their emotions and practice self‑regulation. It empowers them to take ownership of their feelings, use strategies to refocus, and return to learning with a clear mind. This resource has created a calmer, more inclusive environment where every child feels respected and supported.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has shown our students that their voices matter and that people believe in their potential. The combination of engaging books and a calming space has balanced joy in learning with emotional wellness, helping each child feel seen, valued, and capable.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our classroom. Your generosity has made a lasting difference, and my students and I are deeply grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1758898904500,"projectUrl":"project/help-my-students-find-calm-joy-of-read/9731358/","projectTitle":"Help My Students Find Calm & Joy of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Didia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9931480_orig.jpg?crop=2838,2838,x0,y520&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758905411878","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9931480"},{"teacherId":5802069,"projectId":9546998,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of to my classroom. The supplies I have received have already been put to use and will continue to have a direct and lasting impact on our classroom community.\r\nStudents eyes light up when the Fun Friday bin comes out! They are eagerly making groups to play Blokus, which is building our geometric and spatial thinking. Another group has bonded over a shared love of Lego---creating vehicles, new worlds, and lasting friendships! Next in rotation will be chess, checkers, and Rummikub! Games that will be played over and over again! \r\nThank you again for your dedication to my classroom and the students of NYC public schools.","fullyFundedDate":1757518330448,"projectUrl":"project/fourth-grade-fun-friday/9546998/","projectTitle":"Fourth Grade Fun Friday!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dwyer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5802069_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1535585909351","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/dwyer"},{"teacherId":5802069,"projectId":9546910,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of to my classroom. Your contribution helped me set up my classroom for success! Your contribution is truly appreciated and will have a direct and lasting impact on our community.\r\nThanks to your kindness, we have already been able to create seasonal watercolor decor for our classroom and I have set up the library using the plastic display supports. The students are visiting the library far more now that our beautiful picture books are being shown off! Additionally, the colorful cardstock paper has been used to present student work on bulletin boards in a eye catching way! \r\nWith your help, I am working to create a vibrant, welcoming space where children and adults can learn and work collaboratively. You have been a vital part of these efforts and I couldn't make these enriching opportunities without your support.","fullyFundedDate":1755694980479,"projectUrl":"project/fourth-grade-foundations/9546910/","projectTitle":"Fourth Grade Foundations!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dwyer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5802069_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1535585909351","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/dwyer"},{"teacherId":442516,"projectId":9809728,"letterContent":"Your kindness helped us turn everyday learning into memorable milestones. You've shown our students that their efforts matter and that their community is cheering them on. The delicious treats and exciting prize box items brought huge smiles to every student's face. Your kindness turned our classroom into a place of fun, laughter, and memorable moments.\r\nThroughout the year, our students work hard to reach important goals—whether it's mastering new skills, completing projects, or showing growth in character. Thanks to your support, we were able to mark these achievements with joy and excitement. The treats added sweetness to our celebrations, and the prize box treasures gave students a tangible reminder of how proud we are of their accomplishments.\r\nThank you for helping us create a celebration that encouraged our students, rewarded their hard work, and made them feel special.","fullyFundedDate":1763995135711,"projectUrl":"project/celebrate-with-treats-and-sweets/9809728/","projectTitle":"Celebrate With Treats and Sweets","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Barclay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp442516_orig.jpg?crop=1672,1672,x375,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1606150662080","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/442516"},{"teacherId":442516,"projectId":9809129,"letterContent":"Your generosity is creating moments of connection, curiosity, and discovery every single day. We are deeply grateful for the way you chose to invest in our students and their learning community. The games arrived at the perfect time. The students were able to attend their very first game club and open up all the new games and organize them nicely. The children felt so important. I reminded them that people cared enough about THEM and donated these fabulous new materials. \r\nThank you for believing in our kids and helping us create a classroom where every student can thrive. My Game Club students this year will benefit from these materials, as well as students in years to come. \r\nThese games are doing more than filling shelves—they are helping students build collaboration skills, practice problem-solving, grow their confidence, and experience the joy of learning in new ways. For many of our students, this is the first time they've had access to high-quality games that support both academic and social growth. The excitement on their faces when they open a new game or work together to figure out a challenge is something truly special.","fullyFundedDate":1761086676976,"projectUrl":"project/playtime-power/9809129/","projectTitle":"Playtime Power!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Barclay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp442516_orig.jpg?crop=1672,1672,x375,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1606150662080","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/442516"},{"teacherId":5802069,"projectId":9251520,"letterContent":"On behalf of the students and myself, I want to extend my sincerest gratitude for your incredibly generous donation of math books and balances manipulatives.\r\nYour contribution is invaluable to our classrooms and will make a significant impact on our students' education. The new math books will provide up-to-date resources that engage and challenge our learners, bringing new energy to the subject. The hands-on experience provided by the balances is especially meaningful, as it will allow our students to perform practical, tangible exercises to understand mathematical and scientific principles, making learning come alive.\r\nI read at least 2 Math Start books per week to help children understand a new concept or to help them visualize a real world application of a skill. Just this week we have worked on rounding, estimation, and addition/subtraction concepts. \r\nDonations like yours are an investment in my students' futures, giving them the tools they need to succeed both in the classroom and beyond. Because of your thoughtfulness, our students will be better prepared to explore STEM fields with confidence and curiosity.\r\nThank you again for your generosity and for believing in my mission.","fullyFundedDate":1746454636173,"projectUrl":"project/math-plus-literacy-success/9251520/","projectTitle":"Math Plus Literacy = Success!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Dwyer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp5802069_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1535585909351","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/dwyer"},{"teacherId":442516,"projectId":9432420,"letterContent":"Teachers pour so much of themselves into their students, not only their time and energy, but often their own money to make sure children have what they need to succeed. When members of the community step in to help provide treats, rewards, and other classroom essentials, it makes a tremendous difference. These donations ease the financial strain on teachers while giving students the chance to experience the joy of positive reinforcement, which helps them grow in confidence and motivation.\r\n These contributions also strengthen classroom culture. Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool in education—it motivates students to try their best, build good habits, and feel proud of their accomplishments. Something as simple as a small prize or a special treat can turn a student's effort into a moment of joy and pride. Donors who support this create more opportunities for encouragement, celebration, and growth in the classroom.\r\n My students will be able to celebrate every birthday, milestone or even be uplifted on tough days with a special treat. We appreciate you so much!","fullyFundedDate":1758899089741,"projectUrl":"project/treats-for-triumphs/9432420/","projectTitle":"Treats for Triumphs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Barclay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp442516_orig.jpg?crop=1672,1672,x375,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1606150662080","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/442516"},{"teacherId":8413525,"projectId":9206889,"letterContent":"My 5th graders enjoy reading Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar. The book is filled with short, funny, and sometimes surprising stories that each highlight a different character, which makes it an engaging way to practice several important reading skills.\r\n\r\nSome of the lessons we've been working on include identifying theme, analyzing character traits, and noticing how humor and exaggeration can be used as an author's craft. Since each chapter stands on its own but connects to the larger school setting, students also have the opportunity to practice comparing and contrasting across different stories/characters.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, reading often looks like a mix of read-alouds, partner discussions, and independent reading time. For this text, we also do quick comprehension checks and short writing reflections, so students can connect the silly situations in the book to real-life lessons about kindness, fairness, or problem-solving.\r\n\r\nOne of the best parts has been seeing students who don't usually speak up feel comfortable sharing their thoughts. The book's humor makes the lessons approachable. For example, one student who is usually quiet loved the chapter about Mrs. Gorf turning kids into apples, and she led a whole discussion about how the characters solved their problem together. It's wonderful to see books spark that kind of excitement and confidence.","fullyFundedDate":1746787188565,"projectUrl":"project/step-inside-the-whimsical-world-of-waysi/9206889/","projectTitle":"Step Inside the Whimsical World of Wayside School!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Liang","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8413525_orig.jpg?crop=2844,2844,x0,y218&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727967519217","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8413525"},{"teacherId":442516,"projectId":9432380,"letterContent":"On behalf of my students and myself, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your generous support in funding our classroom library and providing the new materials that make it shine. Because of your kindness, we were able to add a wide selection of books that will spark curiosity, foster a love of reading, and open doors to new worlds for every learner who enters our room.\r\n The baskets and flexible seating you made possible have transformed our library into a welcoming, comfortable space where students can choose books independently and settle into a spot that works best for them. Already, I see children eagerly browsing the shelves, recommending titles to their friends, and spending more time immersed in stories. The space has truly become a hub of excitement and learning.\r\n\r\n Your generosity has created more than just a library—it has built a community of readers. Thank you for believing in our students and for investing in their growth. The impact of your gift will last far beyond this school year, inspiring children to see themselves as readers and learners for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1755006153018,"projectUrl":"project/bookworms-in-brooklyn/9432380/","projectTitle":"Bookworms in Brooklyn","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Barclay","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp442516_orig.jpg?crop=1672,1672,x375,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1606150662080","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/442516"},{"teacherId":2103134,"projectId":9053178,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation to our Donors Choose page helping bring our performance of \"101 Dalmatians KIDS\" to life! With your support, our cast took their characters to the next level on our stage. Our police officer Danny said, \"I felt like I was actually performing in a Broadway show!\" Sumaya, who played Roger said, \"When I act it makes me feel like my character, but when I put my costume on, it makes me feel complete.\" Once in costumes, their confidence skyrocketed. One or our Corgis Harley told us that her costume made her feel more confident about her character. \r\nThe 4th and 5th graders grew not only as performing artists, but responsible individuals. Before and after each run through, each student ensured their costume was neatly placed in their personal costume baggies. They were so proud and grateful for their individualized costumes and props. The cast performed their hearts out, but it truly came together once their costumes and props were added, to look like a Broadway version of \"101 Dalmatians\". Your generosity means so much to our performing arts department and our school community.\r\n\r\nAfter the show, a colleague emailed us saying, \"watching each child just beam with pride and charisma...it is magical!\" We couldn't have said it better ourselves. Thank you for contributing to the MAGIC!","fullyFundedDate":1740436973020,"projectUrl":"project/presents-disneys-101-dalmatians-kids/9053178/","projectTitle":"Presents, Disney's 101 Dalmatians KIDS!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Provvisiero","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2103134_orig.jpg?crop=1935,1935,x198,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1583503599089","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-provvisiero"},{"teacherId":6966641,"projectId":5339574,"letterContent":"During remote learning, having a dual screen setup made a big difference in how I could support my fifth-grade students. With one screen, I could keep our live Zoom class running while using the second screen to monitor student work, respond to messages, and share lesson materials without constantly switching windows. This setup helped me stay more connected and organized, allowing smoother, more engaging lessons for my students. They could see visual aids, real-time annotations, and their classmates' work more easily, which made learning feel more interactive even from home.\r\n\r\nWhat excited my students most was how much more I could do at once to help them. For example, I could quickly pull up extra visuals or videos without disrupting the flow of a lesson, or provide instant feedback in breakout rooms while still keeping an eye on the main class. One student in particular, who was usually shy, became much more active in discussions because I could give her more one-on-one support in real time. The dual screen setup helped me reach students in a more personal way, even through a screen, and that connection made a huge difference in their confidence and learning.","fullyFundedDate":1608170660510,"projectUrl":"project/remote-or-not-the-learning-doesnt-stop/5339574/","projectTitle":"Remote or Not! The Learning Doesn't Stop","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Malik","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6966641_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727747528373","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/romasa-malik"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_725","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":952,"numTeachers":67,"percentFrplEligible":90,"percentAsian":30,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":37,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":27,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":84.7,"schoolId":725,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about PS 253 on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"PS 253","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/new-york-city-dept-of-ed/ps-253-keats-multicultural/725"}